CDC’s Bridge Access Program provides free COVID-19 vaccines to adults without health insurance and adults whose insurance does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs. This program will end in August 2024. See fact sheet attached about how to contact Bridge Access providers.
Bridge Access Program: Talking Points & FAQs
- The CDC’s Bridge Access Program provides free COVID-19 vaccines to adults without health insurance and adults whose health insurance does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs.
- COVID-19 vaccines through Bridge Access are available at participating healthcare providers, HRSA-supported health centers, and some pharmacies.
- Uninsured and underinsured adults MUST go to a Bridge Access Vaccine Provider to get their COVID-19 vaccine for free.
- For more details on finding these participating sites, see sections 4 and 5 below.
- The Bridge Access Program will go through December 31, 2024.
- To understand why the Bridge Access Program was needed, it’s helpful to understand how the COVID vaccine distribution program changed throughout the pandemic:
- From late 2020 through April 2023:
- The COVID Vaccine Distribution Program in the U.S. provided free COVID-19 vaccines to everyone, regardless of their insurance status.
- The federal government purchased the vaccines so they would be free to all and easily accessible, regardless of insurance status.
- Starting in April of 2023:
- The COVID vaccines were ‘commercialized,’ meaning that the government would no longer be purchasing them or providing them for free to everyone in the U.S.
- Most health insurance plans (including private health insurance, Medicare & Medicaid plans) still cover COVID-19 vaccines for free for their members.
- By commercializing the vaccines, the insurance companies became the ‘customers’ buying the vaccines, rather than the federal government.
- But commercializing the vaccines would have left 25-30 million uninsured and underinsured adults responsible for paying for their COVID-19 vaccines out of pocket.
- In Mid-2023:
- As a solution to this problem, the CDC developed the Bridge Access Program as a temporary bridge to provide free COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured & underinsured adults.
- From late 2020 through April 2023:
- Adults (18 years and older) without health insurance and adults whose health insurance does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs can get free COVID vaccines through the Bridge Access Program.
- These individuals MUST get a vaccine from a Bridge Access Vaccine Provider in order to get their vaccine for free.
- Eligible adults can get free COVID-19 vaccines at the following locations ONLY:
- At certain healthcare providers: State and local health departments are working with local healthcare providers to distribute free COVID-19 vaccines through providers in the network. Contact your state or local health department for providers in your area.
- Federally supported health centers: State and local immunization programs are working with Federally-Supported Health Centers to provide free COVID-19 vaccines. Reach out to your state immunization manager or contact your local HRSA-Supported Healthcare Centers to see which centers are Bridge Access Providers.
- Pharmacies: CDC partnered with CVS, Walgreens, and eTrueNorth to provide free COVID-19 vaccines.
- Uninsured and underinsured adults MUST go to a Bridge Access vaccine provider to get their vaccine for free.
- If an uninsured or underinsured adult goes to a non-Bridge Access vaccine provider, they will be charged for their vaccine.
- Go to vaccines.gov
- Click ‘Find COVID-19 Vaccines’
- Enter your zip code & select the vaccine type (s) that you prefer.
- Click ‘Search for COVID-19 Vaccines’
- Check the ‘Bridge Access Participant’ box
- Review results and make an appointment at a Bridge Access vaccine provider near you.
FAQs
No, if you are an uninsured adult, or if your insurance doesn’t cover the full cost of a COVID vaccine from an in-network provider, then you are already eligible for free COVID vaccines through Bridge Access. No enrollment is required.
No. If you have Medicare or Medicaid, then you are already eligible for a free COVID vaccine through your Medicare or Medicaid plans.
Underinsured’ means that your healthcare plan does NOT cover the full cost of a COVID vaccine, even when going to an in-network provider. It’s rare, but some insurance plans were granted exceptions to not cover COVID vaccines. If that’s the case for you, you can get a free COVID vaccine through Bridge Access.
If you are unsure if your insurance covers a COVID shot, or if you want to be sure that you go to an in-network vaccine provider that will not charge you for your COVID vaccine, you should call your healthcare provider to confirm.
Yes, identification and proof of residency are not required to get a free COVID-19 vaccine through the Bridge Access Program. They would just tell the vaccine provider that they do not have insurance, and they would need to be sure that they go to a Bridge Access Provider.
You need to let the vaccine provider know that you are uninsured (or that your insurance does not cover the full cost of a COVID-19 vaccine) before they administer the shot. You should also confirm that they are a Bridge Access Provider before your appointment.
No. If you have insurance but you go to an out-of-network vaccine provider, you will be charged a copay. To avoid this, confirm with your health insurance company if the vaccine provider you plan to use is considered in-network for your insurance plan.
No. If you get vaccinated through Bridge Access, you will not be charged.
No, the Bridge Access Program only covers COVID-19 vaccines.
Kids who have insurance can get free COVID-19 vaccines through their insurance.
Uninsured kids, underinsured, Medicaid-eligible or American Indian or Alaska Native are covered under the ‘Vaccines for Children (VFC)’ program. VFC is a federally-funded program providing no-cost vaccines for kids at healthcare providers offices, pharmacies & clinics enrolled in the VFC Program.
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